Christopher Collier

High Yield

Wellington boots, wooden stakes and screws.

(10 x 15 mtr )

One hundred pairs of upturned Wellington boots, sprouting in a field, examining the uncertain future of hill farming in Cumbrian.

location:

Grisedale

dates:

Throughout

OS grid ref:

NY 363 144

getting out there:

*waterproof footware recommended to visit this site.

Parking at Glenridding or Patterdale.Turn up the small B road from Grisedale bridge, ascending through a wood until you reach the valley. Walk along the route of the beck, up the valley for about two km.The sheep fold is near the head of the valley next to a small bridge.

The installation of one hundred pairs of up turned wellington boots scattered like germinating crops or partially buried figures across a field. The work examines the uncertain future of hill farming in the county as one of Cumbria's most iconic industries. The beautiful lakeland landscape, so admired  by tourists with its rolling pastures and dry stone walls, is in many ways a man-made one,  the product  of centuries of upland agriculture traditions. Now, with the industry seeing diminishing returns, the work's ambiguous title refers both to the yielding of many farms to the frosty financial winds blowing against them and also ironically to the low yields they can expect for their labours in the current economic climate. The upturned boots reference farms and farmers that have here quiet literally 'gone under'. Yet also – more hopefully perhaps – a future in which, given the right nurturing , the germination of new farms and new possibilities can be realised.

Artist's website: www.christophercollier.co.uk

Thanks to: Garlands Ltd